Quick answer
France has 11 public holidays in 2026. May is the strongest month to plan around.
Every public holidays date in France for 2026, with the weekday each one falls on — the detail that decides whether a holiday is worth booking leave around.
Total entries
11
Planning year
2026
Best month
May
11 official dates
Data table
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2026 | New Year's Day | NATIONAL |
| Apr 6, 2026 | Easter Monday | NATIONAL |
| May 1, 2026 | Labour Day | NATIONAL |
| May 8, 2026 | Victory in Europe Day | NATIONAL |
| May 14, 2026 | Ascension Day | NATIONAL |
| May 25, 2026 | Whit Monday | NATIONAL |
| Jul 14, 2026 | Bastille Day | NATIONAL |
| Aug 15, 2026 | Assumption Day | NATIONAL |
| Nov 1, 2026 | All Saints' Day | NATIONAL |
| Nov 11, 2026 | Armistice Day | NATIONAL |
| Dec 25, 2026 | Christmas Day | NATIONAL |
What this means for your leave
A holiday on a Tuesday or Thursday is worth far more than one on a Wednesday: a single leave day turns it into a four-day weekend.
Holidays that land on a Saturday or Sunday give you nothing extra — worth knowing before you plan.
Best months to plan around
May is the strongest month to plan around.
How to get the most out of these dates
Book the bridge days first. They are the cheapest days off you will ever take.
Check whether France moves holidays that fall on a weekend to the following Monday — not every country does.
More ways to maximize your time off
Take 7 days off
See what 7 leave days can unlock in 2026.
Long weekends in 2026
Check the ranked break windows for the year.
France vs Germany
Compare public holidays and long weekends for 2026.
France vs Spain
Compare public holidays and long weekends for 2026.
France vs Italy
Compare public holidays and long weekends for 2026.
France country guide
Open the country hub for all its holiday pages.
Turn these dates into a leave plan
See how many days off you can get in France in 2026 from the leave days you actually have.
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